Part One: Reflection
 
UGH! what an exhausting year. I honestly can't even remember what all has happened this time it's been simultaneously both the absolute longest and fastest year by far. It's not been my best year, not in a long shot. I hardly got anything I really wanted to get done done, but at least I was able to create some works I'm really proud of despite the many set backs.
 
My computer issues persisted until June. I went 8 months without a functioning laptop; one that constantly would lose my files and the company refused to issue me either a refund or send a replacement. Every time I sent the damn thing in, they didn't even touch it and told me they fixed it. What a waste of money and time. I was pretty depressed at the time as I wasn't able to use art as my outlet for that long. I'm glad that period is over.
 
I got a job at a dog kennel that was supposed to be a temporary position for the summer, but I ended up quitting before the summer even started. Gas prices had skyrocketed and my paycheck barely covered my commute. The job had really strange hours and if I had a double shift, I'd have to do a 40 minute drive four times a day; I would have to leave and come back. I had to stop volunteering at the stable because of this job too. At least I had managed to raise enough money from this to buy an actual, working laptop by a recommendation from a friend. I can happily say that said laptop has caused me no issues so far and has been working perfectly.
 
Personal life events have kind of hit pretty hard this year too. Not going to disclose them, but they've affected me throughout the year and especially in the last few months. They've dealt a sizable blow to my productivity levels. Thankfully as of the time of writing this, I'm getting back to a place where I can freely create again without feeling a complete blockage. Let's hope this spree can continue.
 
And finally, I got a puppy back in November! A golden retriever named Milk Biscuit. She's my precious little bean and I love her to bits. I've been longing for a dog ever since my previous one passed away four years ago. She's incredible and I'm not sure what I'd do without her. She's been a huge place of comfort for me even if puppyhood has been a little stressful! My eventual plan for her is to make her into a therapy dog as I think she'll be perfect for it. She's already well on her way and we start Puppy School next week.
 
I usually write down plans for the new year here but I don't think I will this time. Instead I'll give a soft announcement that I've reworked my Patreon tiers for 2023 and will be redoing my commissions again in the upcoming months- after I complete my very late to-do list of course. I'll make a formal announcement at another date.
 
Let's get onto the artwork, shall we? 

Part Two: Artwork
 
January: The Bitter Delusion
An unpublished, unfinished drawing of my OC Sylvan. I had VERY limited options for what I could put in these early months, so pardon the sort of... graphic? choice here. Though I am particularly happy with the outcome of this drawing, even if it's technically unfinished haha. Dramatic man has to drama and I'm here for it. God this character is so fun to write for mmmm!
 
February: May I Have This Dance?
I had a hard time this month for a plethora of reasons, but this duo helped me get through it. I believe I had just made Sylvhone canon for the story of ASHES and was going through a huge phase for them- including having a bunch of friends and members of my discord doing mini art trades feat. the couple. I think this was made as a part of that and in the middle of all my computer troubles too. It's a miracle I was able to complete something- but that explains why it's just flat color and nothing more elaborate.
 
March: In The Blue
My friend Silver (Earthtonequeen/Silverlunarwing) was hosting a contest for reaching a subscriber milestone for their webcomic, Shinka: The Last Eevee and I had attempted to make an animation meme for my entry. I think the theme was favourite character, so I picked Callie the half-mega Absol <3
However, my laptop kept me from making any progress at all and this was my most finished frame that I ended up submitting instead. If you're curious about said meme, I'm still working on it!! I've made more headway on it since, though it's been a bit sidelined for other things. Keep an eye out for it!
 
April: The Execution of Snowdapple
Panel 4 of Page 4 of Of Rain & Snow (what a mouthful lmao). This was so hard to chose for since I liked so much from this page in particular. It was one of the only things I had drawn in April too. A little disappointed that it's the only page I actually completed this year, but hey! At least it's a banger of a page and one I can say I'm very proud of.
 
May: ASHES but it's Animal Crossing
A mutual in a discord server had drawn their OCs animal-crossingified and it inspired me to do the same. I've done this previously with other OCs but this time it had to be the ASHES boys™. Mugwort is just a standard human villager while Hone has been turned into a full-fledged cat! I think they're adorable, especially Mug.
 
June: A Hunt Amidst Shadows
An art trade with my friend Saharikya. This thing insert that one 'boi' spongebob meme I spent, FAR too long on it. It took me months to finish and the background just killed me. I got a working computer this month and wanted to finish before Art Fight. Little insider tip, there was supposed to be a fourth character in the foreground, but the angle proved too complicated for me and my skill level so I cut them out entirely, moving the focus onto The Unnamed and their pack of mutated Achlydine instead. Despite taking forever just to paint the background, I'm super happy with the rendering on the characters. The shadow wolves look so cool OuGH. Glowy red eyes, YES please.
 
July: Midnight Fishing
Yet another piece made for Saharikya! Except this time it was part of Art Fight. And wow! The rare and elusive background that I actually had fun painting??? What a novel concept. I adore Varuna; as his designer I feel a sort of attachment to him uwaah so I had to draw him. Another insider tip, I was going to draw him with the Vessel he's the Guardian of, Elisha, but she clearly didn't make the final cut. Just a tranquil little scene of a little cat fisherman fishing.

August: Sparring
August was the start of another rough patch, one that perpetuated until now; so I hardly had anything to show for it. Ended up picking my silly 4-koma The Worst Pick-Up Line, though panel 1 of part 1 is what's shown here. The whole comic itself was style experiment and one that I'm choosing not to go with. Please go check it out, it's probably one of my favourite things I've made this year... also MORE SYLVHONE BECAUSE YES.
 
September: A "Puzzling" God
We're entering into "currently unpublished by the time of posting" territory now. Back in September, I participated in my first Charity Guild event in a long time. Its theme was Cats and Dogs and the money went to the SPCA. This particular collab was unique, as each member got a secret puzzle piece template to draw their entry in as well as a color. I was given my piece and the color blue and decided to draw my OC, Shadowmask, the god of the Valley with the Lifestone (cropped out). Once the deadline hit, each piece was revealed and put together to form the full image!! 
[Completed Piece]
 
October: A Mother's Love
I don't really have a story behind this one other than I just wanted to draw cute art of Hone and his mom, Brie. Little baby boy,,, aggressively sobbing
Personal art really hits differently in tough times and I needed to do something for me for a change. October was also the month I finished [this] MAP part for a palette MAP my friend was hosting. I half stole the palette or at least was inspired by it to make this piece ehehee. 
 
November: Fashionable Found Family
I hardly had anything in November since I was getting used to my new puppy, so I went with this commission for my friend Silver (Earthtonequeen/Silverlunarwing) of their DnD OC. It pictures Siobhan and their found family sibling, Ian, looking incredibly fashionable. I draw these two a lot, and can never get enough of them any time I do it. It's always a joy to get to draw them both! Plus blue plaid is pretty >w>
 
December: You Set My Heart Ablaze
SURPRISE! It's Sylvhone again. I drew a shit ton of them this year out of what little I ended up drawing this year hahah. And unlike last year, I actually got this finished in time for Christmas! I couldn't be more thrilled with the end result, I think it's perfect. I noticed halfway through that it has many similarities to an older card from 2018, but similarities be damned! I wanted to draw gay catboys under the mistletoe. The card print is super pretty too aaaaaa,,, i'm so soft for them. 

Part Three: Conclusion
 
This was a tough year for me, hell, it was tough for a lot of people but I'm glad it's over.
If you read this whole thing get yourself a nice treat, maybe a cup of hot chocolate, you deserve it! 
Cheers to a better year!
-Red